Two boys shot in legs

Two 15-year-old boys are recovering in hospital after being shot in a paramilitary style attack in north Belfast.

Police said they suffered bullet wounds to the legs after the incident in the mainly nationalist Ardoyne area of the city.

It is understood the shootings took place shortly before midnight on Saturday.

One of the boys was taken from his home by a gang of six men while the other victim was grabbed off the street.

They were then taken to an entry off Ardoyne Avenue where one was shot in both calves and the other shot in the left calf.

Detectives investigating the incident have asked anyone with information to contact them.

Beating

In a separate incident, another 15-year-old boy was beaten in a paramilitary-style attack in County Down.

The 15-year-old boy was walking home in the Shackleton Walk/Blenheim Drive area of Newtownards when he was attacked by up to 10 masked men with sticks earlier on Saturday.

He was treated in hospital for extensive bruising and cuts after the incident.

Detectives are trying to establish a motive for the attack.